Furniture and other household items being assembled in the garden during the eviction process Monday. (Express Photo)

Observing that Payal Abdullah, estranged wife of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, and their sons have “no independent claim” on government accommodation, the Delhi High Court Monday held that the family was “liable to be evicted forthwith” and termed their entitlement to retain the bungalow as “wholly illegal”.

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Payal had approached the HC seeking a stay on being evicted from the Type VIII Akbar Road bungalow, which had been allotted to her husband Omar Abdullah during his stint as a Union minister. The court had reserved its judgment on the issue on Friday, and had given oral directions to Payal to “gracefully vacate” the accommodation.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Advocate Amit Khemka, who had represented Payal in the case, said the police action was “unfair” as the court order had been released only on Monday afternoon.

In its order, the bench of Justice Indermeet Kaur noted that since Omar and Farooq Abdullah, who are both ‘Z plus’ protectees, can be secured while in private accommodation, “there is no reason” why Payal and her sons cannot be”. It added that Payal’s apprehension that she and her sons would not be given adequate security cover was “misconceived” and dismissed her plea to retain the bungalow.